Daniel Ballard described his extra-time winner as “what desires are made from” after he despatched Sunderland by means of to the Championship play-off closing with a dramatic semi-final win over Coventry Metropolis.
Sunderland led 2-1 from the primary leg, nevertheless it was Coventry who dominated the return on the Stadium of the Mild, with the reward for his or her superiority coming when Ephron Mason-Clark levelled the tie on combination 14 minutes from the top of regular time.
Haji Wright wasted a gilt-edged probability to finish the turnaround on the finish of second-half stoppage time, and that miss finally proved expensive as Sunderland’s extra-time resilience paid dividends proper on the loss of life with penalties seemingly inevitable.
Ballard, who was glorious in defence for Sunderland, wrote himself into membership folklore within the 122nd minute, stooping to fulfill Enzo Le Charge’s nook and head in off the bar to clinch a 3-2 combination win.
Sunderland will face Sheffield United at Wembley for a spot within the Premier League on Could 24, having spent eight consecutive seasons outdoors the highest flight.
“It’s what desires are made from actually. The followers at this time have been completely unimaginable,” Ballard instructed Sky Sports activities.
“It was simply feeling prefer it wasn’t going to be our day and all of the lads have been determined to try to give them one thing to rejoice.
“What a dramatic finale and stuff desires are made from.
“I used to be so nervous going into that first sport. He [manager Regis Le Bris] has left Chris Mepham out who has been our greatest participant all season.
“So, it was an enormous name and I really feel for him however I’m simply so joyful the gaffer put his belief in me and hopefully I’ve repaid it.”
Save the date.
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) May 13, 2025
In the meantime, Coventry boss Frank Lampard was left to rue what he felt was an undeserved finish to the season for his facet.
“Firstly congratulations to Sunderland, they go to the ultimate however immense pleasure I’ve received in my gamers,” Lampard instructed Sky Sports activities.
“If anybody watched the 2 video games, we dominated at house, we made a mistake they usually scored. I believe we dominated big intervals of this sport. We performed, managed and within the second half it was wave after wave.
“The gamers have given all the pieces from the place we’ve come from – seventeenth within the league in December and the gamers have been good within the second half of the season.
“They needed to concede to us due to the way in which we performed and with the way in which the lads managed the sport they don’t deserve it. I’m rather a lot older and I’ve been round rather a lot so I’ve taken whacks and I’ve had success so perhaps I could be a bit extra balanced in my job however for these gamers, they don’t deserve that.
“We’re not bitter, and congratulations to Sunderland however we have been the higher crew over the 2 soccer matches and that’s why they’ll be so joyful going to Wembley.”
